Does any one else get this, and what is it?

[brokeoven]

Every few months i get this.
One section of my scalp and face is extremely painful to touch, almost like my nerves are exposed and raw.
It lasts about 3 days, and kinda wears off. I take brufen and avoid touching my face or head.
doesnt stop my normal life or anything, but i am curious as to what it is.
Havent googled but wondered is this what people call neuralgia, is it viral??
had it for a few years now.

Ever had shingles or chicken pox?

Neuralgia can be viral, but not always. Neuralgia just means painful nerves-it describes the symptom not the cause.

f it is due to shingles you would normally see a rash/blisters along the path of the nerve.

Brufen is probably the best thing if it works.

If you do experience blistes or a rash, you should stay away from public areas and avid babies and women who could be pregnant.

Sorry - my key board isn't working. Should have checked before posting.

no blisters, no rashes nothing, just very painful skin.

had chicken pox as a small child but im 40 now!

ive had this for several years on and off.

My grandmother had this, on and off, for years and years. Yes, its neuralgia (or what she had was, and it sounds very similar). She said hers was triggered by standing in a draught or getting cold, but tbh I suspect trapped nerves in the neck when tense could have been at play, in her case - a bit like sciatica, but in a different place.

Trigeminal neuralgia. Sympathy - it's vile. Mine seems to be related to stress and also the cold, although I haven't had it for some time - touch wood. My gp gave me medication when it was really bad - I think it was carbamazepine, but it settled shortly after and I didn't take it which I was glad of as the meds had quite alot of side effects iirc.

Wow, so glad you posted

I've had this in a 'patch' on one shin for years, I always think of shingles but there's never anything there. I notice it most when I'm in the shower for some reason.

I've never been to the GP about it because there's nothing to actually show.

So it has a name I can't pronounce properly- thanks for that sag

Or is that only a facial thing?

The trigeminal bit relates the the nerves in the face (the bit from the temple over the cheekbone) but neuralgia can be anywhere I think.

Thanks.

I can say neuralgia

Thankyou for that, i did google in the end and think its trigeminal.

Wont bother the GP with this as it goes after a few days and i have learned to manage it and carry on,
But yes, tis vile and very uncomfortable while i have it.